Manchester City‘s Jack Grealish was initially anticipated to be part of the FIFA Club World Cup squad in 2025. However, head coach Pep Guardiola made the surprising decision to omit him from the lineup for the tournament held in the United States. This has left fans questioning the rationale behind Grealish’s absence.
The club is set to face Wydad AC from Morocco in their first matchup of the tournament. With a full squad ready for this crucial fixture, all eyes are on Rayan Cherki, the exciting new addition to the team from Olympique Lyon. Cherki impressed fans and critics alike with his standout performances last season.
Another player generating buzz is Argentine prodigy Claudio Echeverri. Guardiola is keen to see how this young talent performs, as Echeverri is expected to showcase his potential in the international arena.
Why is Grealish not playing for Manchester City in the Club World Cup?
Guardiola’s decision to exclude Jack Grealish from Manchester City for the Club World Cup stems from a strategic choice reportedly aimed at providing the player with more opportunities for game time elsewhere. The intention is for Grealish to find a club where he can make a significant impact and get more minutes on the pitch, a consideration that led to his exclusion from the current squad.
Though Grealish didn’t leave a substantial mark last season with limited appearances, Guardiola opted to experiment with other emerging talents to drive Manchester City’s success. Unfortunately, the team’s performance experienced inconsistencies, regardless of Grealish’s presence or absence on the field.
Manchester City’s predicted lineup without Grealish
Without Grealish, Guardiola is poised to field an intriguing lineup against Wydad AC. The team’s offensive capabilities remain robust, with stars like Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush anticipated to feature prominently in the starting XI during Wednesday’s match.
Predicted lineup:
- Goalkeeper: Ederson
- Defenders: Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji, Josko Gvardiol
- Midfielders: Nico Gonzalez, Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku
- Forwards: Erling Haaland, Omar Marmoush
